Bishop McNamara, Montverde Academy, Hopkins, New Hope Academy also contenders for top spot in 2021-22.
After going 28-2 and winning the Texas Class 6A state championship in 2020-21,
DeSoto (Texas) tops the Preseason MaxPreps Top 25 high school girls basketball rankings. The Eagles finished ranked No. 11 nationally last year and return a trio of top 100-caliber talents in
Tionna Herron,
Amina Muhammad and
Sa'Myah Smith.
Installing DeSoto at No. 1 and sorting out this year's Preseason MaxPreps Top 25 was a challenging task. There's more direct competition among elite programs than ever before. The top 12 teams in the list below could all wind up playing other members of the same group, sometimes thousands of miles from home. The result, we confidently predict, will be chaos.
That confident prediction, however, is about as far as we can go. It's quite possible that the final No. 1 could have a couple of losses and a top 10 team could wind up with as many as four. Expect the plethora of interstate events to deliver lots of drama and excitement for fans, but lots of confusion for those trying to sort out the rankings.
There is a general consensus that tall, talented DeSoto out of Texas should start the season No. 1. With at least four Power 5 commits, three of them 6-3 or taller, and a schedule that will send them to both coasts, the Eagles will have every opportunity to prove it against other ranked teams.
Read on for a complete look the Preseason MaxPreps Top 25.
Three of the top 75 senior prospects in the country in Tionna Herron, Sa'Myah Smith and Amina Muhammad (center, left to right) will lead DeSoto's quest for state and national titles this season.
Photo by Tommy Hays
Head coach: Andrea Robinson | 2020-21: 28-2, No. 11 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Breakdown: The Eagles are the defending 6A Texas champions and favored to win again — which all by itself is a powerful statement. But DeSoto is also traveling to the West Coast Jamboree in Northern California, the D.C. version of the She Got Game Classic events, and to Minnesota for an ESPN-sponsored event hosted by No. 4 Hopkins. And then DeSoto returns to Texas to navigate the tricky postseason. If DeSoto winds up No. 1, there's no question the Eagles will have earned it.
2. Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.)Head coach: Frank Oliver | 2020-21: 4-1
Breakdown: As always, the Mustangs loaded with Division I talent, but of special value are athletic veteran guards who will run the show for a deep roster. McNamara plays in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, which is always a war, but also heads to Florida for the Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational and Arizona for the Nike TOC.
3. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)Head coach: Special Jennings |
2020-21: 21-2, No. 18 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Breakdown: The Eagles won't quite rack up the same number of frequent flyer miles as DeSoto and Bishop McNamara, but a trip to She Got Game Classic in Atlanta, a visit to No. 8 The Webb School and a long intrastate drive to Orlando will be plenty of opportunity to show off a deep, skilled and athletic roster.
4. Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.)Head coach: Tara Starks |
2020-21: 15-1, No. 9 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Breakdown: The Royals have always been constrained by Minnesota's rules limiting high school travel, but this year ESPN helped finesse that issue by working with Hopkins on an event that brings No. 1 DeSoto, No. 6 Sidwell Friends and other out-of-state powers to the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
5. New Hope Academy (Landover Hills, Md.)Head coach: Sam Caldwell |
2020-21: 13-3, No. 17 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Breakdown: Caldwell always lines up new players for New Hope and then he takes that assembled talent out on the road. This year's version is another solid collection of top-shelf recruits, which travels to the Nike TOC in Arizona, She Got Game D.C. and Boo Williams' annual post-Christmas event in Virginia.
6. Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.)Head coach: Tamika Dudley |
2020-21: 0-0
Breakdown: The Quakers are an unknown quantity as the expected breakthrough season of 2020-21 simply never materialized. Sidwell's starting five can match up with anyone at the Nike TOC in Arizona, or the Hopkins' event in Minnesota, or She Got Game D.C., but the key to retaining this ranking will be finding depth off the bench.
7. Centennial (Las Vegas)Head coach: Karen Weitz |
2020-21: 0-0
Breakdown: The Bulldogs play everyone, usually on the road. And they usually win, as she's perennially blessed with players capable of handling a challenging, if not brutal, schedule. This year's list includes trips to the 'Iolani Classic in Hawaii, the Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational and the Nike TOC — but a lineup that starts with a couple Power 5 recruits, and is deep in Division I talent should be able to rise to each occasion.
8. The Webb School (Bell Buckle, Tenn.)Head coach: Matt Shewmake | 2
020-21: 17-2
Breakdown: The first new face in the top 10, The Webb School has a young roster that will travel to Arizona for a trial-by-fire in the Nike TOC, and will also host No. 3 Montverde Academy.
9. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)Head coach: Shell Dailey |
2020-21: 10-9
Breakdown: Nine losses and No. 9 in the nation? Well, last year really was a throwaway season for the Ascenders, who didn't field their top players in many games. But with at least three Power 5 players, and plenty behind that trio, IMG Academy brings high expectations to both She Got Game Atlanta and She Got Game D.C.
10. La Jolla Country Day (La Jolla, Calif.)Head coach: Terri Bamford |
2020-21: 16-5
Breakdown: Like Texas, Southern California is filled with talented teams that few but the locals know about, so even though the Torreys don't face the Los Angeles-area teams on a regular basis, they'll play a bunch of them sooner or later. Add in a trip to the Nike TOC in Phoenix for more spice.
11. St. John-Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.) Head coach: Dawn Karpell |
2020-21: 14-0, No. 8 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Breakdown: The Lancers not only have talent — a couple of Power 5 girls plus more — but also top-flight coaching. With a trip to the Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational and a matchup with No. 25 Christ the King, St. John-Vianney is in a good position to wind up with a final ranking even better than this one.
12. Duncanville (Texas)Head coach: LaJeanna Howard |
2020-21: 28-3
Breakdown: For years, for decades, and maybe since the school's 1935 founding, Duncanville's famed Pantherettes have been loath to leave the Lone Star State. But this year, Duncanville snaps that in-state string and plays in She Got Game D.C. And for the first time in, well, maybe ever, non-Texans will be able to see this deep, athletic, legendary team up close.
13. Sacred Heart (Louisville, Ky.)Head coach: Donna Moir |
2020-21: 25-7
Breakdown: Sacred Heart is always one of Kentucky's best, and every once in a while Donna Moir assembles a national-level powerhouse — and with a boost from youthful talent, this looks to be one of those years. A trip to the Naples Holiday Classic after Christmas will be Sacred Heart's toughest out-of-state test, but Kentucky is never an easy state to navigate.
14. Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis)Head coach: Dan Rolfes |
2020-21: 29-0, No. 4 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Breakdown: Like Sacred Heart, Incarnate Word doesn't travel much — though there is a trip to California over the MLK weekend – but with lots of veterans returning from a 29-0, No. 4-in-the-country ranking, overlooking IWA would be a major mistake.
15. St. Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.)Head coach: Scott Allen |
2020-21: 11-1, No. 3 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Breakdown: Referred to as PVI in the past, St. Paul VI has added "St." to its name after a move to Chantilly, Va., but one thing hasn't changed: The consistently competitive girls basketball team. With trips to the United Bank Holiday Invitational in South Carolina and She Got Game DC — not to mention the gantlet that is the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference – whatever you call the school will be a team no one wants to face.
16. DME Sports Academy (Daytona Beach, Fla.)Head coach: Wesley Arocho |
2020-21: 14-9
Breakdown: Like IMG, DME Sports Academy's 2020-21 record doesn't reflect its top-shelf talent. That said, though, depth and a schedule not at the same level as other ranked teams may limit DME's ceiling in the MaxPreps Top 25.
17. Edison Academy (Detroit)Head coach: Monique Brown |
2020-21: 10-0, No. 5 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Breakdown: The Pioneers have been a perennial member of the MaxPreps Top 25 in recent years, and though there's been a bit of a talent drop-off, Michigan's best is still awfully good. And this year No. 19 South Bend Washington will test out just how good in the Best of Michigan Holiday Classic in early December.
18. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)Head coach: Alicia Komaki |
2020-21: 20-5
Breakdown: The Trailblazers are always good and well-coached. Bolstered by transfer talent, Sierra Canyon takes a trip to Texas, plays No. 7 Centennial and then returns to SoCal for the toughest postseason in the country.
19. South Bend Washington (South Bend, Ind.)Head coach: Steve Reynolds |
2020-21: 22-6
Breakdown: The Panthers, alma mater of Skylar Diggins, can't travel as much as many other teams but with plenty of Division I talent and trips to the Classic in the Country and Best of Michigan Holiday Classic, a top 20 preseason ranking makes sense.
20. Hoover (Ala.)Head coach: Krystle Johnson |
2020-21: 32-1
Breakdown: Hoover usually vacuums up all the oxygen in Alabama, and this year is no exception. But this year does include a little interstate adventure, starting with the Insider Exposure Thanksgiving Classic in Jacksonville, Fla.
21. Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, Fla.)Head coach: Al Honor |
2020-21: 19-1, No. 10 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Breakdown: Florida is flat loaded this year, so even though the Highlanders feature a couple of Power 5-level players and some solid D-1 players, they slot behind No. 3 Montverde, No. 9 IMG Academy and No. 16 DME Sports Academy. But with an impressive schedule — the Insider Exposure Thanksgiving Classic, United Bank Holiday Invitational in South Carolina and She Got Game Atlanta — to go along with quality coaching, don't be surprised if Lake Highland Prep winds up being the best in the Sunshine State.
22. Classen SAS (Oklahoma City)Head coach: James Perinovic |
2020-21: 17-2
Breakdown: For no apparent reason, Oklahoma teams have seldom made the trip to the Nike TOC in Arizona. In fact, they haven't been known for many interstate efforts at all — but this year the Comets head to Phoenix and a chance to show the top teams in the country what Oklahoma basketball is all about.
23. Conway (Ark.)Head coach: Ashley Hutchcraft |
2020-21: 17-4
Breakdown: Arkansas is a brutally competitive state and even the best teams seldom survive the regular season unscathed. But if the Wampus Cats can find a way to do well in Duncanville — always difficult for out-of-state teams — and take care of business back home, a spot in the final MaxPreps Top 25 awaits.
24. Fremont (Plain City, Utah)Head coach: Lisa Dalebout |
2020-21: 26-1, No. 12 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Breakdown: The Silverwolves' main chance to impress will be at the Nike TOC, though after last year's solid showing at GEICO Nationals, few will take Utah's best lightly. The key will be good enough guard play to take full advantage of the team's size.
25. Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.)Head coach: Bob Mackey |
2020-21: 0-0
Breakdown: There's little to go on for the Royals except reports of the usual load of talent. But with No. 6 Sidwell and No. 18 Sierra Canyon on the schedule, there's opportunity for them to show it once more belongs in the MaxPreps Top 25.
